Dozens of Abused Animals Were Just Rescued in Texas

Help couldn’t come too soon for the dozens of animals found living in squalor at a supposed animal rescue in Texas on Wednesday. Houston SPCA rescued nearly 150 dogs, cats and a horse from Puppy Dogs R Us in Dayton, a run-down facility that garnered numerous complaints from neighbors over the years.

“There’s a shed with kennels stacked on top," SPCA spokesperson Kerry McKeel told KHOU. “Animals standing in their own feces. They’re on top of their kennels trying to stay out of mucky waters.”

Rescuers speculate that the operation fell into disrepair after it grew too big for the owners to maintain. “I don’t know if it was because of ill health or inability to support this many animals but the conditions back there are deplorable and I think it just became overwhelming,” Capt. Ken Defoor of the Liberty County Sheriff's Office told KHOU.

After an hours-long rescue mission, all the animals are now being evaluated and treated by the Houston SPCA veterinary team. A hearing has been set for next Tuesday in Dayton to determine the fate of the animals.

“What we found today at this facility is unacceptable,” said Tara Yurkshat, vice president of animal welfare, Houston SPCA. “We have a large team of Houston SPCA responders on the ground to rescue these neglected animals who have clearly suffered by not receiving adequate care. We hope we are awarded custody so we can continue their journey towards health, happiness and finding them new homes.”